On Tuesday, the Mavericks spent close to three hours selling Howard on the virtues of coming to Dallas for the next four years or more.

They no doubt enlightened the best free agent available about their plans to build a championship winner that will stand the test of time and possibly even mentioned reasons why people in Houston and Los Angeles won’t be able to do the same.

So now, everybody waits for Howard to make a decision. The Mavericks’ meeting with him in Los Angeles included owner Mark Cuban, coach Rick Carlisle, president/general manager Donnie Nelson, Dirk Nowitzki and athletic trainer Casey Smith, among others.

However, from superstar to superstar, Nowitzki’s message was clear well before the face-to-face.

He has said since the season ended — since two seasons ago, really — that he is ready to turn the role of being the face of the franchise over to somebody else. Howard would clearly be the main superstar if he joins the Mavericks.

The same cannot be said in Houston, where James Harden has entrenched himself as the go-to man who touches the ball on virtually every possession. Or in LA, where Kobe Bryant will continue to be the Lakers’ franchise icon.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, have every reason to feel good. While their silence about how the meeting went is curious, you can be certain that it was a full Cuban production. Video, analytical data and visions of the future were no doubt part of the recruiting meeting.

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